Turkey holds 26 generals, including ex-air chief, over coup

A Turkish court has remanded in custody 26 senior generals on charges of playing a role in the failed coup aimed at toppling President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, state media said on Tuesday.

The 26 placed under arrest by the Ankara court include former Turkish air force chief General Akin Ozturk, who some Turkish media have painted as the mastermind of the plot although he has denied this accusation.

They were all remanded in custody after a hearing that ended late Monday, the state-run Anadolu news agency said.

The generals have now been sent to prison ahead of their trials, a date for which has not been sent.

They have been charged with crimes including seeking to overturn the constitutional order, leading an armed group and seeking to assassinate the president.

In his statement to prosecutors, Akin denied that he had been the ringleader of the coup.